George, Teague propel Pacers past reeling Nets
NEW YORK -- Paul George and Jeff Teague scored 24 points apiece as the Indiana Pacers squandered a 19-point lead but made enough plays down the stretch to record a 106-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
George shot 9 of 22 from the floor and grabbed 11 rebounds. He hit two step-back jumpers down the stretch after Indiana briefly trailed midway through the fourth quarter.
Teague handed out at least seven assists for the 17th straight game and consistently got to the foul line. He shot 6 of 10 from the floor and made 10 of 13 free throws.
Al Jefferson and Myles Turner added 11 points apiece for the Pacers, who matched a season high with their fifth straight win. Indiana also won for the 12th time in 16 games.
Brook Lopez scored 23 points for the Nets, who lost their eighth straight and 10th consecutive home game since Randy Foye's buzzer-beater over Charlotte on Dec. 26. Lopez was the only starter in double figures as Sean Kilpatrick added 18 and Joe Harris contributed 15.
The Pacers led by 19 with about 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the third when Teague scored seven straight points on an 11-0 run. Indiana gradually let the Nets back in it and trailed 87-85 on two free throws by rookie Caris LeVert with about eight minutes left.
Indiana never trailed after C.J. Miles knocked down a corner 3 with 7:23 left for an 88-87 lead. The Pacers still allowed the Nets to hang around but after Lopez's hoop made it a 90-89 game with 6:29 left, Indiana closed it out with a 17-7 spurt, highlighted by two George mid-range jumpers.
The Pacers formally sealed it when Teague hit a layup with 1:21 remaining for a 100-95 lead.
NOTES: Brooklyn F Bojan Bogdanovic was rested for the first time this season. Bogdanovic was the only member of the Nets to appear in each game before Friday. ... Indiana G/F Glenn Robinson III is the eighth player in team history to participate in the slam dunk contest. ... Pacers reserve G Rodney Stuckey (right ankle sprain) missed his 31st game, albeit his first due to an ankle injury. Stuckey injured his ankle Wednesday when he stepped on Orlando G Elfrid Payton's foot. ... Nets G Jeremy Lin (strained left hamstring) continued taking shots in pregame warmups but the team did not issue an update on when he will be re-evaluated.